Table-adjusting mechanism for paper-feeding machines.



A. BROADIVIEYER.

TABLE ADJUSTING MECHANISIVI FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5. 1915.

Patented 111213116, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEYS BROADMEYER. TABLE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1915.

Patented 11133716, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS A. BROADIVIEYEH.

TABLE ADJUSTING MEC'HANISIVI FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5. 1915. 118329. Patented my16,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

2f a www? l A. BROADMEYER.

TABLE ADJUSTING IVIECHANISIVI FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 5, |915.

Patented May 16, 1916.

A. BROADIVIEYER. TABLE ADIUSTING IVIECHANISM FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1915.

Patented May 16, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES f6 f3 invented certain new and apparent from the 'side elevation of that part ran eraans ramena' ernten.

ALBERT BROAD'MEYER, 0F HARISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO THE' W. O.

HICKoK MANUFACTURING co., or or PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION TABLE-ADJUSTING'MECHANISM For., PAPERFFEEDING memes Patenten May ie, wie.

Original application led May 20, 1915, Serial No. 29,326. Divided and this'application filed August 5,

1915. Serial No. 43,783. l

Ta all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, ALBERT BROADMEYER, a subject o`f the Emperor of' Germany, and a resident of Harrisburg, in the county -of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have useful Improvements inl Table-Adjusting Mechanism for Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the follovlvng is a specification.

y paper feedingA machines of that .nature described and shown in my application Number 29,326, filed May 20, 1915, and is, more particularly an-` improved mechanism and means for adjusting the paperA holding table thereof as the paperis fed from the table, this application being a division of my application Number 29,326, just mentioned.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a table adjusting mechanism which will operate with equal facility, accuracy, -and general .eidectiveness in connection with rough, smooth, thick, or thin paper, and to do this automatically, imparting a step by step upward moven'ent to the table in order to maintain its paperl stack at practically a constant level.

Further objects residing more especially' in the details of construction, arrangement, and operation of the mechanism, will be following 'description in which reference is made to the accompany.

, ing drawings, forming a part of this fspeci;

Figure 1 is a plan viewA of the rear porillustrating F ig. 2 is a side is an enlarged of the feeding table .and lookmy present improvement.' elevation thereof. Fig. 3

machine adjacent to the feed ing at the relatively opposite side thereof as compared with Fig. 2.- Figr 4 is a detail `vertical longitudinal section taken therethrough substantially on line 4 4 of Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssection,

enlarged, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4l. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view vof certain of the par`ts`lplainly shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 isa detail verticaly section taken substantially on line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view looking from the base, of a portionof the feed table seen in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is anenlarged detail section present invention relatesgenerally to an endview of transverse tie rods -a ratchet wheel 60 especially vin connection with rough and uneven paper. Fig. 13 is a detail Vertical sectionthrough certain parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12, and taken substantially on line 12-12 of said gure,and Fig. 14 is the paper stack shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that at the rear of the feeding machine as shown, is arranged a frame in which the feed table is vertically adjustably disposed, this frame consisting of a base 50 from which a pair of standards 5l rise at each side, the upper ends of these standards supporting uppervside frames 52 rigidly connected and spaced apart by the 53 and 54; as best seen in Figs. 4V and 5.

Byreferring to Fig. 5 it will be noted `that the upper side frames 52 have journals for the upperends 55 of screwu bars 56 ldisposed between the standards 51 at each'side -tions of the upper side frames 52, it being also seen in Fig. 5 th of the shaft 59 at the machine and ylooking' forward, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, is provided with rigidly secured thereto, and havingat one side a clutch face 6l with which the clutch socket 62 of a crank 63 is engageable, the crank itself being longitudinally adjustable upon one extremity of the shaft 59 to engage with and disengage from the clutch face 61 just mentioned. At each side of the feedtable frame thus formed, is arranged a longitudinally extending bracket 64, havingend yokes 65, see Fig. v2, engageable withl the standards 5l in -sliding relation, and having a central at one .projecting end right hand `side of thel threaded bearing 66 through which the respective screw bars 56 extend, whereby upon rotation of the feed bars 56, the supporting brackets 64 will be raised and lowered, dependent upon the direction of such rotation. It will be noted that each of the supporting brackets 64 has upwardly projecting studs 67, one of which is plainly.

seen in Fig. 5, which are adapted to be received in conformable recesses in the lower surfaces of side cleats 68 secured to the under side of the feed table-69, whereby the latter may be disposed in proper relation with respect to the supporting brackets 64 by registering the recesses of its cleats 68 with the studs 67 just before mentioned.

By referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 8 it will be seen that the feed table 69 is provided at one side with inwardly projecting transversely extending slots 70 in which plates 71, seen in Fig. 8, are disposed, each of these plates 71 being provided with a clamping block 72 by which the same may be secured in selected adjustment within the slots 70 by a clamping bolt 73 seen in Fig. 5, each of said adjusting plates 71 also carrying a depending socket -74 adapted to receive the lower end of one of the upright paper guide rods 75, of which there are two at ore side of the paper stack 76, this stack being guided atits opposite side by means of a guide plate 77 as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, supported at the lower end of an arm 78, the upper end of which is adjustably connected by a wing nut 79 toa clamp 80, rigidly attachable to the tie rod 54 as plainly seen in Fig. 4. 'The plates 71 may be connected by a bar 71a. Being thus locatedl in proper position between the guide rods and the guide plate 77, the paper stack is moved forwardly against the upper e'nd of spaced rigid upright guide strips 81 as plainly seen by reference to Fig. 4, this position shown in Fig. 1, being the normal position of the stack ready for operation, although it is to be understood'that the rods 75 and the guide plate 77 are laterally adjustable with respect to the feed table in order to accommodate a desired width of paper. With the paper stack thus disposed in proper position, and elevated through the use of thehand crank 63 of the controlling shaft 59, the sheets are removed one at a. time and fed forwardly by the action of a suction cylinder 82 journaled transversely above the forward edge of the feed table and immediately above the upper end of the forward spaced upright paper guide strips 81 before mentioned the relative arrangement of this suction cylinder 82 being readily seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

In order to effect automatic vertical adj ustment of the feed table 69, the controlling shaft 59 is provided upon its projecting end with a loosely disposed weighted arm 83,

trolled pawls 84 at points diametrically op- 70 posed to one another with respect tothe ratchet wheel 60, the sides of which they -engage. The lower end of the weighted arm 83 is provided with a pivoted contact finger 85 which, by reference to Fig. 6, will be seen 75 to have 4a Vslight rearward movement under control of a" spring 86, and to be prevented from forward movement by a stop pin 87. This contact finger 85 normally engages theA teeth of a curved rack 88 at'the forwardgo portion of a horizontally extending latch 89, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted at 90"upon a stud 91 projecting from the adjacent upper side frame 52, and having a rearwardly projecting balancing arm 92 ex- 85 tending rearwardly beyond its pivot 90 and provided with an adjustable weight 93,as shown in Fig. 3. j

At an intermediate point 94 ofthe latch 89 4is pivotally connected the rear end of an 90 arm 95 rigidly connected at its forward end to one end of a cross rod 96 which, as plainly seen in Fig. 1, is journaled transversely between the forward portions of the upper side frame and is provided intermediate its 95 ends with a controlling rod adjustably clamped thereto by a clamp 98, the said controlling rod 97 extending rearwardly above the paper stack 76 and carrying an adjustable element 99 which engages the top of the 100 paper stack itself. This paper engaging ele.- ment 9 9 may either have a lower paper engaging roller 100 as seen by reference to Figs.v 3 and 10, vor maycarry a depending rigid paper engaging p1n 101 as shown in 105 connection with the element 102 as seen in Fig. 11, the element 99 in Fig. 10 being utilized with thick paper and the element 102 shown in Fig. 11, being used with thin paper. Thus during the use of the machine,

as successive layers 'of the paper are fed from the top of the stack 76 by the action of the suctlon cylinder 82, the lowering movement of the paper engaging element 99 permits the rear end of the controlling rod 97 to lower, thus rocking the cross rod 96 and swinging the rear end of its arm 95 downwardly, the result of which is to slightly lower the forward end of the latch 89 upon its rear pivot 99, to permit swing- 120 ing movement of the weighted arm 83 before mentioned, and as shown in dottedy lines in Fig. 3, during which movement the pawls 84 slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 60. The lower portion of the weighted arm 83 however is provided with a laterally and outwardly projecting pin 103 disposed in a longitudinal slot' 104 at the rear end of a connecting rod 105, the forward end of which is connected to the wrist pin 106 of 13 4end of the suction a crank 107, the latter being connected to one cylinder`82 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The slot 104 is of substantially the length of its curved and inclined rack 88 of the latch 89 and, during constant rotation of the suctioncylinder 82, the connecting rod 105 is continuously reciprocated so that when-1f vever the weighted arm.83 is permitted swing- 1ng movement, `during which the pawls 84 slide vover the ratchet wheel teeth as before described, the action of the connecting` rod 105 immediately returns the weighted. arm 83 to its normal position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 andv thus restores the automatic controlling parts to their original position. During the return movement of the weighted arm 83, the engagementof the pawlsV 84 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 60 cause a slight rotation-of this ratchet wheel, and a similar rotative movement of the controlling shaft 59,.. which movement is communicated through the bevel gears 58 and 57 to the screw bars 56, rotation of whicli'elevates `the feed table 69 through the side brackets: 64 connected as'before-described.

By. referring to Figs. 5 and 9, it will be noted that the shaft 59 before referred to, is provided adjacent one end and 'between the upper side frames 52,

ley 108 having an annular Bange 109 provided in its -outer face with an aperturexllO, this aperture being adapted for the reception of a clutch pin 111 carried by an annular clutch plate 112 securely mally held in inoperative withdrawn position as shown in Fig. 5 during the operation of the machine. -When the stack of sheets 76 is exhausted, or nearly so, however, the clutch pin 111 may be thrown in, thus coupling the loose pulley 108 tothe shaft 59, the operator at vthe same time withdrawing the pawls 84 from the ratchet wheel 60.

Around the pulley 108- is extended the rear end of a belt 114, the forward end of which -belt as plainly seen in Fig. 1, is extended around oneend portion of the suction cyl.- inder 82 (see also Fig.i6) so that, 'when the pulley 108 is clutched; the rotation of the suction cylinder 82 is communicated tothe shaft 59, rotating the same to similarly rotate the screw bars 56 and the lower table 69.

From Fig.-5 and also Afrom Fig. '2, itwill be noted that one of the bearings 66 of the adjacent side bracket 64, is'provided with an extended bearing or tubular piece 115- loosely through which extends a vertical rod 1.16 having an adjustable set collar 117 secured thereon below the said side bracket,

and with which the extended portion 115 just mentioned comes into engagement as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the table isalowered through-the action of the belt 1 14, thus causing lowering movement with a loose pul-.

fastened to the shaft 59 at 113. This'clutch pin 111 is nor-v -chanical switch 129.

- registering contact pins 134 and 135 respectively, which'upon lowering movement of the electro-magnets '125 which attract the and a shaft 53z`and 54 and the shaft59 of thegures carrying an, insulated Supp0rt139 above the yof the rod 116, the upper end of which is secured to a flexible connection 118 passing over a pulley 119 supported upon. the adl jacent upper side frame 52 and connected at its forward end to a clutch operating'mem- 7@ ber for disengaging a clutch in the driving connections to the suction cylinder 82 as hereinafter described, when the table`69 has been thus lowered.

The automatic means before described for elevating the table 69 in step by step movement during the usual operation of this ma-y chine, are well adapted to serve the intended functions in connection with either rough or smooth paper which is even' and regular. 3@

`termediately fulcrumedn at 122 and having r a rearwardlyprojecting -arm 123 provided with an adjustable weight 124 counterbalancing the same7 the end 120 of this lever constituting an armature and being disposed adjacent to electromagnets,125. A batteryI 126 is in circuit with the electro-magnets 125 through circuit wires 127 and 128, the latter of which includes a me- The circuit wires 127 and 128 respectively lead to a rigid arm 130 and one end 131.0f an intermediately pivoted\ lever 132, the opposite end of which lever is provided with a vertically adjust-V able' paper .engaging element 133 normally disposed upon the rear central portion of the paper stack 76a as shown in both Figs. 12 and 14, the said rigid arm 130 and the said end 131 of the lever 132 being provided with loo the rearend of the lever 132, come into en. gagementand complete the circuit through armature and thus release the contact piece 85a of the weighted arm 83 which is thus free to move downwardly. and rearwardly by gravity and is returned inl order toraise the paper holding tableby connections 105a corresponding to the connections V12b f 105 previously described. .There is also shown in Fig. 12 apair of rods- 53 and 54,

59a corresponding to the tie rods before described, it being noted that in the automatic mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3, a frame 136 is clamped by a clamp I137 to theA rod 53a, .this frame having a lower horizontally slotted portion 138 `adjustably paper stack 76a, by means of a clamp 140, this insulated support 139 carrying the rigid arm 130 and the lever 132 before mentioned, which connections together with the clamp 140 will be better seen by reference to Fig. 13; There is also shown in Fig. 12 a cross rod 96a corresponding to the cross rod 96 in the figures before mentioned, to which rod 96a are loosely connected the forward ends of rearwardly projecting rods 141 disposed upon opposite sides of the lever 132 and having adjustable paper engaging members 142 adjacent their rear ends, the function of which is to press downwardly upon the paper stack 7 6a due to the weight of the rods 141 and assist in maintaining the rough uneven stack 7 6L as fiat as possible.

Referring again to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the reduced end portion of the suction cylinder 82 is provided with a pair of gears 168 and 169 in respective connection with separate gears 170 and 171 of the shaft 172 of a wooden roller 167. Power is applied to the shaft 172 of the wooden roller 167 through a sprocket chain 190 to its sprocket wheel 191, this sprocket wheel 191 being connected to the shaft 172 of the wooden roller 167 by means of a clutch at 193, having an operating member 194 to which the flexible connection 118 before mentioned, is connected so as to disengage the clutch 193 when the table has been lowered so that the extension'115 strikes and lowers the set collar 117 of rod 116.

1. In a paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table on which the paper is supported, means for automaticallyraising the feed table in step by step movement during operation, including a transverse rotatable shaft, a pulley loosely` mounted on said shaft, a clutch for connecting the said pulley with the said shaft, driving connections leading to said pulley for lowering the said feed table and including a clutch, and means for automatically releasing the said clutch of the driving connections when the table has been lowered to a predetermined point.

2. In a paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table on which the paper is supported, side brackets upon which the said feed table is disposed, having ings, a transverse shaft having geared con-` threaded bearings, vertically extending screw rods projecting through the said bearnection with the upper ends of said screw bars, means for automatically rotating the said lshaft to raise the feed table in step by step movements during the operation of the machine, and as paper is fed therefrom, a

pulley loosely mounted upon the said shaft, a manualclutch forconnecting the pulley with the shaft, driving connections leading tothe said pulley for lowering the said. feed table, said driving connections including a clutch, and means for automatically releasing the said clutch of the driving connections when the table has been lowered to a predetermined point.

3. In a paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table on which the paper is supported, supports for the said feed table including vertically extending screw bars, side brackets through which the said screw bars project and upon which the feed table is disposed, a shaft having geared connection with the said screw bars, means for automatically rotating the said shaft whereby to raise the feed table in step by step movements during the feeding operation, a pulley loosely mounted upon the said shaft, a manual clutch for the said pulley, driving connections for the said pul- -vervtically adjustable feed table on which the paper is'y supported, a support for the said feed table includingy vertically disposed screw bars and side brackets through which the said screw bars are threaded and upon which the feed table is disposed, a shaft having geared connections with the upper ends of the said screw bars, a ratchet wheel?k carried by the shaft, a weighted arm rev` oluble on the shaft and provided with pawls in engagement with the said ratchet wheel, and also provided with depending contact piece, a vertically movable latch member having an inclined rack with which the said Contact piece engages to normally prevent lmovement of the weighted arm,

driving connections for returning the said weighted arm to normal position after movement thereof, and connections for lowering the said latch member, said connections including an element disposed upon, and in enga ement with, the paper stack upon the fee t-able.

5. In a paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table, screw bars on which the said table is supported, means for rotating the said screw bars to elevate'V the feed table, an intermediately .pivoted latch member normally preventingmtation of the said screw` bars and having an adjustable weight adjacent one end, and means for releasing the said latch member including an arm extending above the paper stack i upon the feed table, and a paper engaging element adjustably secured upon the said arm and adapted to rest upon the paper itself.

6. In a paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table on which the paper is supported, screw bars on which the said table is adjustably mounted, a shaft having geared connection with the said screw bar, a ratchet wheel carried by the said shaft, a weighted arm revoluble on the shaft and having pawls in engagement with the said ratchet wheel, said arm being provided with a depending contact piece and.

with a laterally projecting pin, driving connections for returning the weighted arm to normal position after each movement thereof, and including a'slotted connecting rod, the slot of which receives the said laterally projecting pin of the said arm, a latch mem. ber pivoted at one end and provided at its opposite end with an inclined rack engaging the depending contact piece of the Weighted arm, and connections for lowering the saidv latch member` as sheets are fed from the stack, said means including an oscillatory shaft having a rigid arm, one end of which is attached to the latch member, and a second arm adjustably connected to the said shaft and extending above the paper stack, together with a member adjust-ably secured upon the last mentioned arm and yresting upon the paper stackI itself.

7. ln a l paper sheet feeding machine, a vertically adjustable feed table, screw bars on -which the said table is adjustably vvsupported, means for rotating the said screw bars to elevate the table during the feeding 'operation7 comprising a ratchet mechanismV having a weighted pawl carrying arm, a pivoted latch member hav-ing a stepped pawl engaging face and-normally preventtically adjustable feed table, clutch con- 4 trolled connections with the driving means for lowering said feed table, and adjustable means for automatically releasing the clutch of the driving means when the feed table hasl been lowered to a predetermined position, in-

cluding a member disposed vertically alongA one side of the said feed table and having connection with the said clutch, and an adj ustable stop on the said member with which' the table is engageable.

ALBERT BRUADMEYER. 

